https://www.thecentrism-movement.org/

The Liberia Political Centrism Movement, Goba Compound, 2nd Street, Sinkor, Monrovia (2026)

18/06/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 18, 2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐈'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐅𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

MONROVIA, Liberia — The Liberia Political Centrism Movement (LPCM) welcomes President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's June 16 national address declaring that no individual, institution, or criminal network connected to the US$19.2 million co***ne seizure at Roberts International Airport will escape justice. The President's pledge that Liberia "is not open for the business of drug trafficking" is the kind of unambiguous language this moment demands, and it echoes calls this Movement made in our June 15 statement for decisive, transparent national action.

We commend the President for placing the National Joint Security Council, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Liberia National Police at the center of a coordinated, multi-agency response, and for signaling openness to international cooperation in tracing this network's financing and reach.

That said, The Centrism Movement views the President's address as a tentative reprieve rather than a resolution. Words of resolve, however welcome, are not the same as results. Ten days have now passed since the co***ne was seized on June 8, and Liberians still do not know who has been arrested, charged, or cleared. The House of Representatives has had to invoke its own oversight powers to press for disclosure. Civil society coalitions and respected religious leaders have publicly questioned whether the government's posture reflects genuine accountability or a holding pattern designed to manage public anger until attention fades. These are not the conditions of closure. They are the conditions of suspense.

"We take the President at his word, and we want to believe in this fight. But Liberians have heard strong words before, on this matter and others, only to watch momentum dissolve once the news cycle moves on. A pledge is not a prosecution. Resolve is not the same as a result. The President's statement buys his administration credibility, not closure. We will know within weeks, not months, whether this was a turning point or another speech," — Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, Executive Chairperson, The Centrism Movement.

To convert this pledge into the closure Liberians deserve, The Centrism Movement again calls on President Boakai and his administration to:
■Publish a public, binding timeline — measured in weeks, not months — for the disclosure of findings, the identification of suspects, and the filing of formal charges.
■Confirm, in clear terms, the scope and composition of any international assistance in the investigation, including which partners are involved and what authority they will have to verify findings independently.
■Disclose, at minimum, the points of entry and chain of custody implicated in this seizure, consistent with protecting the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
■Establish a standing mechanism, with civil society participation, through which the public can track the investigation's progress between official addresses, so that accountability does not depend solely on presidential speeches.
Liberia's international partners, investors, and ordinary citizens are watching the gap between this declaration and what follows.

The Centrism Movement will measure the success of this moment not by the strength of the President's words on June 16, but by the verifiable outcomes delivered in the weeks ahead. We remain ready to engage constructively with the Government, the Legislature, and civil society to help close that gap.

Issued by:
Abraham Garpehn
National Spokesperson, The Centrism Movement
Tel: +231 775 637 523
Email: [email protected]

15/06/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 15, 2026

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐈𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓

MONROVIA, Liberia — The Liberia Political Centrism Movement (LPCM) expresses profound concern over the recent arrest and seizure of co***ne at Roberts International Airport, reportedly valued at approximately US$19.2 million. While The Centrism Movement commends the law enforcement personnel whose vigilance made this seizure possible, the incident lays bare a dangerous and expanding narcotics threat that imperils our people, our institutions, and Liberia’s standing in the international community. The gravity of this matter demands nothing less than a comprehensive, transparent, and urgently executed national response.

The sheer scale of this shipment is a stark and sobering indicator that sophisticated transnational trafficking networks have identified and are actively exploiting critical vulnerabilities in Liberia’s security architecture and border oversight. This seizure is not an anomaly — it is evidence of an entrenched and organized criminal enterprise that has embedded itself within our entry points and supply chains. Dismantling these networks, disrupting their financing, and fortifying every port of entry must be treated as a matter of urgent national security.

The impact on Liberia’s youth is a matter of acute national concern. The proliferation of illegal narcotics breeds addiction, devastates educational attainment and economic productivity, fuels violent crime, and tears apart families and communities. These cumulative harms are robbing an entire generation of the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from Liberia’s future. The cost is not merely human — it is generational.

“Drug peddling and substance abuse have become a devastating scourge that is ravaging Liberian youth and systematically destroying their futures. President Boakai and the Government of Liberia must adopt far more aggressive and stringent measures to confront this crisis head-on. Half-measures and delayed action are no longer acceptable when the lives and livelihoods of our young people hang in the balance. The time for bold, coordinated, and sustained intervention is now.”— Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, Executive Chairperson, The Centrism Movement

This seizure also poses a serious risk to the diplomatic and economic progress Liberia has worked diligently to achieve. Any perception of Liberia as a transit corridor or source country for narcotics will erode foreign investor confidence, strain bilateral partnerships, and may prompt punitive measures from the international community that could reverse hard-won development gains. Protecting Liberia’s reputation abroad requires demonstrable action at home.

Public confidence is at a critical juncture. Citizens are rightfully demanding accountability, transparency, and swift justice. The Centrism Movement is deeply concerned by the government’s limited public disclosure regarding persons of interest and the status of investigations. Secrecy in matters of this magnitude erodes civic trust, discourages public cooperation, and ultimately weakens the state’s capacity to hold perpetrators accountable. Opaque processes expose prosecutions to failure, leave witnesses vulnerable to intimidation, and embolden traffickers to operate with impunity.

To restore public confidence and strengthen Liberia’s national response, The Centrism Movement urgently calls upon President Boakai and the Government of Liberia to:
■Launch an independent, internationally assisted investigation immediately, with findings made public within a defined and binding timeframe, fully detailing the chain of custody, all points of entry implicated, and every individual and entity connected to this seizure. Accountability must be visible and verifiable.
■Implement immediate and rigorous reinforcement of border security at Roberts International Airport and all national ports of entry, including the deployment of advanced detection technologies, properly trained personnel, and robust anti-corruption safeguards across all customs and aviation security operations.
■Pursue swift, well-resourced, and internationally coordinated prosecutions, working closely with INTERPOL, the UNODC, and partner nations to trace and freeze illicit financial flows, dismantle trafficking networks in their entirety, and ensure that any complicit public officials face the full measure of the law.
■Urgently scale national prevention, treatment, and youth rehabilitation programs, establish an independent public oversight mechanism with meaningful civil society participation, and launch a sustained national awareness campaign supported by concrete whistleblower protections to empower communities to combat the drug trade from within.

The seizure at Roberts International Airport must serve as an inflection point — the catalyst for comprehensive, lasting reform. The Centrism Movement calls upon President Boakai and the Government of Liberia to act with urgency, transparency, and unwavering resolve to dismantle trafficking networks, protect Liberia’s youth, and preserve the nation’s hard-earned international standing.

We remain firmly committed to constructive engagement with government authorities, civil society, and international partners in pursuit of these vital national objectives.

Issued by:
Abraham Garpehn
National Spokesperson, The Centrism Movement
Tel: +231 775 637 523
Email: [email protected]

11/06/2026

We are sending fervent birthday wishes to Centrist Heston Jackson Godrewardourworship Heston Matthew Jackson II our dynamic Media Director. May the Almighty Continue to shower you with his blessings and long life.

07/06/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥
𝐁𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐥𝐫. 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐢 𝐆𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚, 𝐋𝐋𝐁. 𝐋𝐋𝐌.
𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, The Liberia Political Centrism Movement
Assistant Professor of Law, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law

June 7, 2026

Before I proceed, let me reaffirm my support for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. I have publicly supported many of the reform efforts undertaken by his administration and remain committed to supporting the success of Liberia. Should President Boakai decide to seek re-election in 2029, he will continue to enjoy my full and unwavering support. This article is therefore not political in nature. It is not directed at any political party, government official, or political opponent. Rather, it is a patriotic appeal to all Liberians, particularly those entrusted with leading public institutions whose mandates directly affect economic policy, procurement, banking, commerce, investment, industry, and national development.

The thoughts expressed here have been shaped by numerous conversations with Liberian professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, public servants, and ordinary citizens. While we often disagree on politics, we frequently arrive at the same conclusion on one issue: Liberia must urgently reclaim its economy.

For too long, Liberians have invested enormous energy in political contests while paying insufficient attention to economic ownership. We fight fiercely over political offices, titles, appointments, and positions, many of which offer little long-term financial security. Meanwhile, substantial portions of our economy remain dominated by foreign interests.

The uncomfortable truth is that political power without economic power is often an illusion.
A nation cannot truly prosper when its citizens are largely spectators in their own economy. 𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥? 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬? 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭? Far too often, the answers point away from Liberians.

In many sectors, foreign companies financed by contracts connected to our natural resources and public spending have built thriving businesses, accumulated substantial wealth, and established modern communities in some of the most desirable parts of our country. Meanwhile, many Liberians continue to struggle in overcrowded neighborhoods, on unpaved roads, in flood-prone communities, and in mosquito-infested suburbs that lack adequate infrastructure and basic services. This reality should concern all of us.

The challenge is not the presence of foreign investors. Every successful nation welcomes investment. The challenge is ensuring that Liberians are also positioned to participate meaningfully in the wealth generated from their own economy. Many countries have demonstrated that deliberate economic empowerment of citizens is not only possible but necessary. Singapore, South Korea and Botswana are ready examples. None of these achievements happened by accident. They were the result of deliberate policy choices. Liberia must make similar choices.

Reclaiming the economy starts by supporting Liberians to establish firms and businesses capable of competing for and winning public sector contracts. Government remains the single largest spender in the country. Public procurement therefore represents one of the most powerful tools available for building a strong Liberian middle class. We should therefore seriously consider ring-fencing a defined percentage of government procurement for qualified Liberian-owned businesses. Such a policy should be transparent, merit-based, and accompanied by measures that improve the technical capacity of local firms.

Reclaiming the economy also requires changing our mindset. Liberians must reject the notion that wealth creation is reserved for others. We must cultivate a culture that accepts and celebrates legitimate prosperity. We must stop treating success with suspicion. We must replace destructive envy with constructive competition. We should want every hardworking Liberian family to prosper.

Economic revival also requires meaningful banking reform. A teacher, lawyer, nurse, engineer, civil servant, professor, doctor, or entrepreneur with a stable income should have a realistic pathway to obtaining credit. Access to finance should enable responsible citizens to build homes, purchase vehicles, invest in businesses, educate their children, and improve their quality of life. Prosperous citizens create prosperous communities. Prosperous communities create prosperous nations.

Personally, I often think about retirement. I have no desire to spend my final years in a crowded city. My dream is to retire in Menjay Town, Grand Gedeh County, on a modern homestead built on land that my family possesses in abundance. I look forward to waking each morning and seeing the resting place of my father, Bai Mason Gbala, and being able to drive in two hours to Toweh Town (Nimba County) where the remains of my late mother Mrs. Dorisann Gbor Toweh-Gbala will be reburied. Yet even those deeply personal dreams depends on something larger than individual ambition. It depends on an economy that works for Liberians. It depends on roads, electricity, financing, local enterprise, economic opportunity, and national prosperity reaching every county and district of Liberia.

Ultimately, the question before us is not whether we support one political party or another. The question is whether we are prepared to build an economy that genuinely belongs to Liberians. The challenge before government is significant, but the responsibility does not rest with government alone. Business leaders must invest. Financial institutions must innovate. Public officials must act courageously. Civil society must advocate. The private sector must partner. Citizens must embrace entrepreneurship, productivity, and self-improvement.

We must learn to see beyond politics. We must stop viewing public office as the primary route to economic security. We must create a Liberia where success is built through innovation, enterprise, hard work, and opportunity. When that happens, elections will become less about access to power and resources and more about competing ideas for national development. That is the Liberia we should strive to build. That is the Liberia our children deserve. And that is the Liberia we must begin building today.

Let us reclaim our economy. Let us empower our people. Let us build local wealth. Let us strengthen Liberian businesses. Let us expand access to capital. Let us create opportunities in every county. Let us move beyond politics and focus on prosperity. The future of Liberia depends on it.

20/05/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Centrism Movement acknowledges and appreciates the official invitation extended to its Executive Chairperson, Cllr Kanio Bai Gbala, LLB, LLM by the National Independent Movement for Boakai (NIMBO) to serve as a Special Guest at the organization’s National Unveiling and Groundbreaking Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026 in Congo Town, Monrovia.

The invitation reflects the growing importance of constructive engagement and collaboration among institutions and movements committed to national development, democratic participation, and inclusive governance in Liberia. The Centrism Movement remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote unity, civic participation, and meaningful national progress.

20/05/2026

Two weeks ago, our Executive Chairperson Cllr Kanio Bai Gbala, LLB, LLM and Deputy Head of Secretariat Mr. Daniel Nuxe Thomas held very productive discussions with Hon. Robert Bestman, Lord Mayor of Paynesville City.

The conversations focused of forging a collaborative partnership to advance positive information and interventions being undertaken by both of our organizations. Watch this space for the impactful next steps.

10/05/2026

Happy Mothers Day to our resilient and loving Liberian mothers and mothers everywhere 🙏

07/05/2026

Yesterday, the Executive Chairperson of the Centrism Movement, Cllr Kanio Bai Gbala, LLB, LLM , was privileged to interact with H.E. Jeremiah Kpang Koung, the Honorable Vice President of the Republic of Liberia at his Capitol Building office.

Discussions focused on building a vibrant patriotic and economic culture where Liberians become the primary beneficiaries of their resources. The Vice President also assured Cllr. Gbala, who is also President of the Grand Gedeh Bar Association, of the viability of the Putu Mining Project and its potential benefits for the people of Southeastern Liberia.

19/04/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐡 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

By Cllr Kanio Bai Gbala, LLB, LLM Assistant Professor of Law, Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, Executive Chairperson, The Liberia Political Centrism Movement

There is a troubling notion gaining traction that political loyalty, particularly support for the election of a President, somehow confers immunity from accountability. That because one stood on the winning side of history, one can do no wrong, or should not be called to account when they do. We have seen this before. During the CDC era, a culture emerged where certain individuals operated as untouchables, contributing very little to governance while shielding themselves behind proximity to power. That path did not serve the country well, and we must not repeat it.

Let us be clear. No nation can progress when governance is reduced to partisan entitlement. For over 170 years, Liberia has struggled under the weight of political divisions that prioritize loyalty over competence and allegiance over accountability. The result is evident: an economy largely controlled by outsiders, while Liberians remain locked in daily struggles over limited opportunities, often divided by the very politics that should unite us in purpose.

It is therefore both refreshing and commendable that President Boakai is setting a different tone. While no leader is without fault, the signals from the Executive Mansion have been clear and consistent, the rule of law must prevail, and no individual, regardless of closeness to power, is above it. This is a standard that must be preserved and strengthened. I have observed, even among colleagues within the Unity Party, a heightened sense of caution and discipline, a recognition that public service demands integrity and restraint. This was not always the case in the past, when political connections often emboldened individuals to act with impunity, even interfering with independent institutions.

It is against this backdrop that I reflect on the recent expulsion of former Representative Yekeh Kolubah. While opinions may differ on the decision, we must resist the temptation to frame it through the lens of political loyalty or affiliation. Public office is a privilege, not a license for misconduct. It demands decorum, responsibility, and respect for the institution one serves. In this instance, the record reflects a sustained pattern of conduct that fell short of those standards, including deriding the courts, deploying uncouth and vituperative language in the public space toward women and the President, and making comments on the Liberia Guinea border matter that approached the realm of the irresponsible; all the more concerning given Yekeh's checkered human rights history. When such standards are persistently undermined, accountability must follow.

This is not about personalities. It is about principles. Supporting a President, a party, or a cause cannot and should not be used as a shield against the consequences of one’s actions. To do so would erode the very foundations of governance and public trust. The Legislature, in this instance, has drawn a line, one that affirms that no individual is indispensable and that institutional integrity must be protected at all costs.

As a nation, we must embrace this moment as an opportunity to recalibrate. To move away from blind allegiance and toward a culture of responsibility. To recognize that true patriotism lies not in uncritical support, but in upholding the values that sustain our democracy.

President Boakai’s leadership offers a chance to reset our national trajectory. Let us not squander it by clinging to old habits of partisanship and impunity. Instead, let us commit, individually and collectively, to a Liberia where accountability is not selective, where institutions command respect, and where the rule of law stands above all.

16/04/2026

Today, we proudly celebrate our very own Linda Feta Flomo Deputy Director for Programs of the Centrism Movement, on the occasion of her birthday.

Linda’s dedication, steady leadership, and commitment to impact continue to strengthen our work and inspire those around her. Through her service, she embodies the values of purpose, integrity, and progress that define our Movement.

As she marks another year, we wish her renewed strength, good health, and greater accomplishments in the journey ahead. May this new chapter bring even more opportunities to lead, serve, and thrive. Happy Birthday Linda.

The Liberia Political Centrism Movement

18/06/2026

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